Rainy Day Watercolour

This is for those April showers we are supposed to be having.....yesterday in Calgary we got snow!
I always love how a pop of colour on those grey days can cheer you up.

MATERIALS REQUIRED:

- watercolour paper, at school I use a nice 130lb Fabranio we get in bulk
- green painter's masking tape
- disk tempera paint or watercolour paint
- water spray bottle 
- foam plate for palette
- sand from the playground or garden centre, optional
- kleenex
- my template, optional
- glue
- coloured paper
- craft foam or vinyl, optional
- small button

PROCEDURE:

Place your paper on your art board.  Tape off edges with Painter's masking tape.

Gather your painting supplies.

Brush some water over your entire paper.

While the paper is still wet start adding colour.  The colours you need for stormy skies are black, blue, and purple.

You want very diluted colour so this is where the foam plate comes in.  Add paint and then extra water to get a nice wash.


Paint over entire paper.  You want variation in your colour so some areas have more grey (diluted black) or blue than others.

You can even splatter on some diluted paint.  You want the paper to stay moist so use your water sprayer if it is getting dry.

Not finished yet.......

Crumple up a kleenex and begin lifting off some of the paint to create clouds.

Storm clouds are dark on the bottom and lighter on top so you can add a touch more grey if needed.  Use your spray bottle to keep the paint moving if needed.

A further effect you can add is using sand.  Unlike salt it will not bloom but the paint will collect around the particles leaving a nice texture, like raindrops.

Sprinkle a little on the painting and leave until fully dry.

While the painting is drying you can work on the umbrella and person.



You can use my template or sketch out the pieces freehand.

The umbrella was traced on watercolour paper and then painted.  You can see the pencil lines try the paint.

Cut out when dry.

Glue a button on the top of the umbrella.
You can also add a few lines.

Cut a handle out of black paper.

Use a bright colour for the slicker, a neutral for the head and hand.

I have some nice yellow vinyl for the boots, you could also use craft foam or just paper.

Glue all the pieces into place.

Paint a little puddle for your person to stand in.  I used the tape again to maintain that white border.  At school I will just make sure not to remove the bottom tape till it is completely finished.

That's it.